AUSTIN, Texas - University of Idaho senior Liga Velvere finished third in her heat of the 400-meter hurdles with a 59.64-second effort to advance to the next round of her speciality at the NCAA West Regional Track and Field Meet.

Velvere qualified for the regional meet with a 58.65 and is one of 24 hurdlers to advance in the three-day meet from which the qualifiers for the NCAA Championships at the University of Oregon will be determined. The quarterfinal is Friday at 5:30 p.m. PT.

"I was very impressed with Liga advancing," coach Wayne Phipps said. "It was not surprising but it was impressive considering she was out in lane eight."

Georganne Moline of Arizona had the best 400 hurdle qualifying time with a 56.30.

"We were hoping for a few more people to advance but we still have a lot of opportunities to do so," Phipps said.